diff --git a/fvm/src/call_manager/default.rs b/fvm/src/call_manager/default.rs
index a0727e8c2..fb210563a 100644
--- a/fvm/src/call_manager/default.rs
+++ b/fvm/src/call_manager/default.rs
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ use crate::engine::Engine;
 use crate::gas::{Gas, GasTracker};
 use crate::kernel::{
     Block, BlockRegistry, ClassifyResult, ExecutionError, Kernel, Result, SyscallError,
-    SyscallHandler,
 };
 use crate::machine::limiter::MemoryLimiter;
 use crate::machine::Machine;
@@ -181,7 +180,7 @@ where
         read_only: bool,
     ) -> Result<InvocationResult>
     where
-        K: Kernel<CallManager = Self> + SyscallHandler<K>,
+        K: Kernel<CallManager = Self>,
     {
         if self.machine.context().tracing {
             self.trace(ExecutionEvent::Call {
@@ -549,7 +548,7 @@ where
     /// 2. Initializes it by calling the constructor.
     fn create_account_actor_from_send<K>(&mut self, addr: &Address) -> Result<ActorID>
     where
-        K: Kernel<CallManager = Self> + SyscallHandler<K>,
+        K: Kernel<CallManager = Self>,
     {
         if addr.is_bls_zero_address() {
             return Err(
@@ -608,7 +607,7 @@ where
         read_only: bool,
     ) -> Result<InvocationResult>
     where
-        K: Kernel<CallManager = Self> + SyscallHandler<K>,
+        K: Kernel<CallManager = Self>,
     {
         // Get the receiver; this will resolve the address.
         let to = match self.resolve_address(&to)? {
@@ -654,7 +653,7 @@ where
         read_only: bool,
     ) -> Result<InvocationResult>
     where
-        K: Kernel<CallManager = Self> + SyscallHandler<K>,
+        K: Kernel<CallManager = Self>,
     {
         // Lookup the actor.
         let state = self
diff --git a/fvm/src/call_manager/mod.rs b/fvm/src/call_manager/mod.rs
index 80f2dff69..680c8ecda 100644
--- a/fvm/src/call_manager/mod.rs
+++ b/fvm/src/call_manager/mod.rs
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ use fvm_shared::{ActorID, MethodNum};
 
 use crate::engine::Engine;
 use crate::gas::{Gas, GasCharge, GasTimer, GasTracker, PriceList};
-use crate::kernel::{self, BlockRegistry, ClassifyResult, Context, Result, SyscallHandler};
+use crate::kernel::{self, BlockRegistry, ClassifyResult, Context, Result};
 use crate::machine::{Machine, MachineContext};
 use crate::state_tree::ActorState;
 use crate::Kernel;
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ pub trait CallManager: 'static {
     /// Calls an actor at the given address and entrypoint. The type parameter `K` specifies the the _kernel_ on top of which the target
     /// actor should execute.
     #[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
-    fn call_actor<K: Kernel<CallManager = Self> + SyscallHandler<K>>(
+    fn call_actor<K: Kernel<CallManager = Self>>(
         &mut self,
         from: ActorID,
         to: Address,
diff --git a/fvm/src/engine/mod.rs b/fvm/src/engine/mod.rs
index 3267f0859..f342a7305 100644
--- a/fvm/src/engine/mod.rs
+++ b/fvm/src/engine/mod.rs
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ use wasmtime::{
 };
 
 use crate::gas::{Gas, GasTimer, WasmGasPrices};
-use crate::kernel::SyscallHandler;
 use crate::machine::limiter::MemoryLimiter;
 use crate::machine::{Machine, NetworkConfig};
 use crate::syscalls::error::Abort;
@@ -498,7 +497,7 @@ impl Engine {
     /// linker, syscalls, etc.
     ///
     /// This returns an `Abort` as it may need to execute initialization code, charge gas, etc.
-    pub fn instantiate<K: Kernel + SyscallHandler<K>>(
+    pub fn instantiate<K: Kernel>(
         &self,
         store: &mut wasmtime::Store<InvocationData<K>>,
         k: &Cid,
@@ -516,12 +515,7 @@ impl Engine {
                 .insert({
                     let mut linker = Linker::new(&self.inner.engine);
                     linker.allow_shadowing(true);
-
-                    store
-                        .data()
-                        .kernel
-                        .bind_syscalls(&mut linker)
-                        .map_err(Abort::Fatal)?;
+                    K::bind_syscalls(&mut linker).map_err(Abort::Fatal)?;
 
                     Box::new(Cache { linker })
                 })
diff --git a/fvm/src/executor/default.rs b/fvm/src/executor/default.rs
index 579b29ef4..554dea015 100644
--- a/fvm/src/executor/default.rs
+++ b/fvm/src/executor/default.rs
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ use crate::call_manager::{backtrace, Backtrace, CallManager, Entrypoint, Invocat
 use crate::eam_actor::EAM_ACTOR_ID;
 use crate::engine::EnginePool;
 use crate::gas::{Gas, GasCharge, GasOutputs};
-use crate::kernel::{Block, ClassifyResult, Context as _, ExecutionError, Kernel, SyscallHandler};
+use crate::kernel::{Block, ClassifyResult, Context as _, ExecutionError, Kernel};
 use crate::machine::{Machine, BURNT_FUNDS_ACTOR_ID, REWARD_ACTOR_ID};
 use crate::trace::ExecutionTrace;
 
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ impl<K: Kernel> DerefMut for DefaultExecutor<K> {
 
 impl<K> Executor for DefaultExecutor<K>
 where
-    K: Kernel + SyscallHandler,
+    K: Kernel,
 {
     type Kernel = K;
 
diff --git a/fvm/src/kernel/default.rs b/fvm/src/kernel/default.rs
index d47740e4a..da10bb5df 100644
--- a/fvm/src/kernel/default.rs
+++ b/fvm/src/kernel/default.rs
@@ -427,7 +427,7 @@ where
 
 impl<K> CallOps<K> for DefaultKernel<K::CallManager>
 where
-    K: Kernel + SyscallHandler<K>,
+    K: Kernel,
 {
     fn send(
         &mut self,
@@ -437,10 +437,7 @@ where
         value: &TokenAmount,
         gas_limit: Option<Gas>,
         flags: SendFlags,
-    ) -> Result<CallResult>
-    where
-        K: SyscallHandler<K> + Kernel,
-    {
+    ) -> Result<CallResult> {
         let from = self.actor_id;
         let read_only = self.read_only || flags.read_only();
 
@@ -506,10 +503,7 @@ where
         })
     }
 
-    fn upgrade_actor(&mut self, new_code_cid: Cid, params_id: BlockId) -> Result<CallResult>
-    where
-        K: SyscallHandler<K> + Kernel,
-    {
+    fn upgrade_actor(&mut self, new_code_cid: Cid, params_id: BlockId) -> Result<CallResult> {
         if self.read_only {
             return Err(
                 syscall_error!(ReadOnly, "upgrade_actor cannot be called while read-only").into(),
diff --git a/fvm/src/kernel/filecoin.rs b/fvm/src/kernel/filecoin.rs
index e07a2ab6f..1cc2347ef 100644
--- a/fvm/src/kernel/filecoin.rs
+++ b/fvm/src/kernel/filecoin.rs
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ pub trait FilecoinKernel: Kernel {
 #[derive(Delegate)]
 #[delegate(IpldBlockOps, where = "C: CallManager")]
 #[delegate(ActorOps, where = "C: CallManager")]
-#[delegate(CallOps<K>, generics = "K", where = "C: CallManager, K: SyscallHandler<K> + Kernel")]
+#[delegate(CallOps<K>, generics = "K", where = "C: CallManager, K: Kernel")]
 #[delegate(CryptoOps, where = "C: CallManager")]
 #[delegate(DebugOps, where = "C: CallManager")]
 #[delegate(SystemOps, where = "C: CallManager")]
diff --git a/fvm/src/kernel/mod.rs b/fvm/src/kernel/mod.rs
index 959882b2a..bc688e935 100644
--- a/fvm/src/kernel/mod.rs
+++ b/fvm/src/kernel/mod.rs
@@ -48,9 +48,11 @@ pub struct CallResult {
     pub exit_code: ExitCode,
 }
 
-pub trait Kernel: 'static {
-    /// The [`Kernel`]'s [`CallManager`] is
+/// The base [`Kernel`] trait implemented by all kernels.
+pub trait Kernel: SyscallHandler + 'static {
+    /// The [`Kernel`]'s [`CallManager`].
     type CallManager: CallManager;
+    /// The [`Kernel`]'s memory allocation tracker.
     type Limiter: MemoryLimiter;
 
     /// Construct a new [`Kernel`] from the given [`CallManager`].
@@ -83,6 +85,7 @@ pub trait Kernel: 'static {
     fn into_inner(self) -> (Self::CallManager, BlockRegistry)
     where
         Self: Sized;
+
     /// The kernel's underlying "machine".
     fn machine(&self) -> &<Self::CallManager as CallManager>::Machine;
 
@@ -90,14 +93,18 @@ pub trait Kernel: 'static {
     /// `name` provides information about gas charging point.
     fn charge_gas(&self, name: &str, compute: Gas) -> Result<GasTimer>;
 
-    /// XXX Returns the remaining gas for the transaction.
+    // XXX: Move these somewhere else?
+
+    /// Returns the remaining gas for the transaction.
     fn gas_available(&self) -> Gas;
 
+    /// XXX: Testing only!
     fn gas_used(&self) -> Gas;
 }
 
+/// This trait links the kernel to a wasm module via wasm "host" calls (syscalls).
 pub trait SyscallHandler<K = Self>: Sized {
-    fn bind_syscalls(&self, linker: &mut Linker<InvocationData<K>>) -> anyhow::Result<()>;
+    fn bind_syscalls(linker: &mut Linker<InvocationData<K>>) -> anyhow::Result<()>;
 }
 
 #[delegatable_trait]
diff --git a/fvm/src/syscalls/actor.rs b/fvm/src/syscalls/actor.rs
index c328b9b38..1e7237fe5 100644
--- a/fvm/src/syscalls/actor.rs
+++ b/fvm/src/syscalls/actor.rs
@@ -6,9 +6,7 @@ use fvm_shared::{sys, ActorID};
 use super::bind::ControlFlow;
 use super::error::Abort;
 use super::Context;
-use crate::kernel::{
-    ActorOps, CallOps, CallResult, ClassifyResult, Result, SyscallHandler, SystemOps,
-};
+use crate::kernel::{ActorOps, CallOps, CallResult, ClassifyResult, Result, SystemOps};
 use crate::{syscall_error, Kernel};
 
 pub fn resolve_address(
@@ -113,7 +111,7 @@ pub fn create_actor(
     context.kernel.create_actor(typ, actor_id, addr)
 }
 
-pub fn upgrade_actor<K: CallOps + Kernel + SyscallHandler>(
+pub fn upgrade_actor<K: CallOps + Kernel>(
     context: Context<'_, K>,
     new_code_cid_off: u32,
     params_id: u32,
diff --git a/fvm/src/syscalls/mod.rs b/fvm/src/syscalls/mod.rs
index 268715e57..894ee58ed 100644
--- a/fvm/src/syscalls/mod.rs
+++ b/fvm/src/syscalls/mod.rs
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@ use anyhow::{anyhow, Context as _};
 use num_traits::Zero;
 use wasmtime::{AsContextMut, ExternType, Global, Linker, Memory, Module, Val};
 
-use crate::call_manager::{backtrace, CallManager};
+use crate::call_manager::backtrace;
 use crate::gas::{Gas, GasInstant, GasTimer};
-use crate::kernel::filecoin::DefaultFilecoinKernel;
+use crate::kernel::filecoin::{DefaultFilecoinKernel, FilecoinKernel};
 use crate::kernel::{
     ActorOps, CallOps, ChainOps, CryptoOps, DebugOps, ExecutionError, IpldBlockOps, SyscallHandler,
     SystemOps,
@@ -241,20 +241,9 @@ use self::error::Abort;
 
 impl<K> SyscallHandler<K> for DefaultKernel<K::CallManager>
 where
-    K: ChainOps
-        + ActorOps
-        + CryptoOps
-        + SystemOps
-        + IpldBlockOps
-        + DebugOps
-        + CallOps
-        + SyscallHandler<K>
-        + Kernel,
+    K: Kernel + ChainOps + ActorOps + CryptoOps + SystemOps + IpldBlockOps + DebugOps + CallOps,
 {
-    fn bind_syscalls(
-        &self,
-        linker: &mut wasmtime::Linker<InvocationData<K>>,
-    ) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+    fn bind_syscalls(linker: &mut wasmtime::Linker<InvocationData<K>>) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         linker.bind("vm", "exit", vm::exit)?;
         linker.bind("vm", "message_context", vm::message_context)?;
 
@@ -330,15 +319,13 @@ where
     }
 }
 
-impl<C> SyscallHandler<DefaultFilecoinKernel<C>> for DefaultFilecoinKernel<C>
+impl<K> SyscallHandler<K> for DefaultFilecoinKernel<K::CallManager>
 where
-    C: CallManager,
+    K: FilecoinKernel,
+    DefaultKernel<K::CallManager>: SyscallHandler<K>,
 {
-    fn bind_syscalls(
-        &self,
-        linker: &mut Linker<InvocationData<DefaultFilecoinKernel<C>>>,
-    ) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
-        self.0.bind_syscalls(linker)?;
+    fn bind_syscalls(linker: &mut Linker<InvocationData<K>>) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+        DefaultKernel::bind_syscalls(linker)?;
 
         // Now bind the crypto syscalls.
         linker.bind(
diff --git a/fvm/src/syscalls/send.rs b/fvm/src/syscalls/send.rs
index 93c2ca9f4..3c1c0b7b1 100644
--- a/fvm/src/syscalls/send.rs
+++ b/fvm/src/syscalls/send.rs
@@ -7,13 +7,13 @@ use fvm_shared::sys::{self, SendFlags};
 
 use super::Context;
 use crate::gas::Gas;
-use crate::kernel::{CallOps, CallResult, ClassifyResult, Result, SyscallHandler};
+use crate::kernel::{CallOps, CallResult, ClassifyResult, Result};
 use crate::Kernel;
 
 /// Send a message to another actor. The result is placed as a CBOR-encoded
 /// receipt in the block registry, and can be retrieved by the returned BlockId.
 #[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
-pub fn send<K: CallOps + Kernel + SyscallHandler>(
+pub fn send<K: CallOps + Kernel>(
     context: Context<'_, K>,
     recipient_off: u32,
     recipient_len: u32,
diff --git a/fvm/tests/dummy.rs b/fvm/tests/dummy.rs
index 88f0d8187..1faf483c0 100644
--- a/fvm/tests/dummy.rs
+++ b/fvm/tests/dummy.rs
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ use fvm::call_manager::{Backtrace, CallManager, Entrypoint, FinishRet, Invocatio
 use fvm::engine::Engine;
 use fvm::externs::{Chain, Consensus, Externs, Rand};
 use fvm::gas::{Gas, GasCharge, GasTimer, GasTracker};
-use fvm::kernel::SyscallHandler;
 use fvm::machine::limiter::MemoryLimiter;
 use fvm::machine::{Machine, MachineContext, Manifest, NetworkConfig};
 use fvm::state_tree::StateTree;
@@ -275,7 +274,7 @@ impl CallManager for DummyCallManager {
         }
     }
 
-    fn call_actor<K: Kernel<CallManager = Self> + SyscallHandler<K>>(
+    fn call_actor<K: Kernel<CallManager = Self>>(
         &mut self,
         _from: fvm_shared::ActorID,
         _to: Address,
diff --git a/testing/conformance/src/vm.rs b/testing/conformance/src/vm.rs
index ff0a09278..a1ff077da 100644
--- a/testing/conformance/src/vm.rs
+++ b/testing/conformance/src/vm.rs
@@ -195,18 +195,11 @@ impl<M, C, K> Kernel for TestKernel<K>
 where
     M: Machine,
     C: CallManager<Machine = TestMachine<M>>,
-    K: Kernel<CallManager = C>,
+    K: Kernel<CallManager = C> + SyscallHandler<Self>,
 {
     type CallManager = K::CallManager;
     type Limiter = K::Limiter;
 
-    fn into_inner(self) -> (Self::CallManager, BlockRegistry)
-    where
-        Self: Sized,
-    {
-        self.0.into_inner()
-    }
-
     fn new(
         mgr: C,
         blocks: BlockRegistry,
@@ -236,6 +229,13 @@ where
         )
     }
 
+    fn into_inner(self) -> (Self::CallManager, BlockRegistry)
+    where
+        Self: Sized,
+    {
+        self.0.into_inner()
+    }
+
     fn machine(&self) -> &<Self::CallManager as CallManager>::Machine {
         self.0.machine()
     }
@@ -261,12 +261,11 @@ where
     }
 }
 
-impl<M, C, K, KK> CallOps<KK> for TestKernel<K>
+impl<M, C, K> CallOps<Self> for TestKernel<K>
 where
     M: Machine,
     C: CallManager<Machine = TestMachine<M>>,
     K: Kernel<CallManager = C> + CallOps<Self>,
-    KK: SyscallHandler<KK> + Kernel,
 {
     /// Sends a message to another actor.
     /// The method type parameter K is the type of the kernel to instantiate for
@@ -293,17 +292,14 @@ where
     }
 }
 
-impl<M, C, K> SyscallHandler<TestKernel<K>> for TestKernel<K>
+impl<M, C, K> SyscallHandler<Self> for TestKernel<K>
 where
     M: Machine,
     C: CallManager<Machine = TestMachine<M>>,
-    K: Kernel<CallManager = C>,
+    K: Kernel<CallManager = C> + SyscallHandler<Self>,
 {
-    fn bind_syscalls(
-        &self,
-        _linker: &mut Linker<InvocationData<TestKernel<K>>>,
-    ) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
-        Ok(())
+    fn bind_syscalls(linker: &mut Linker<InvocationData<Self>>) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+        K::bind_syscalls(linker)
     }
 }
 
@@ -311,7 +307,7 @@ impl<M, C, K> FilecoinKernel for TestKernel<K>
 where
     M: Machine,
     C: CallManager<Machine = TestMachine<M>>,
-    K: FilecoinKernel<CallManager = C>,
+    K: FilecoinKernel<CallManager = C> + SyscallHandler<Self>,
 {
     fn compute_unsealed_sector_cid(
         &self,